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Fresh start

Fresh start

‘Fresh start’ on offer from councillor hoping to be Leicester’s first directly-elected mayor

A councillor hoping to become the city’s first directly-elected mayor is relying on offering a fresh face with a fresh start to win the vote.

Friday was the closing date for people to put their hats into the ring to become the official Labour candidate.

Among them is Abdul Osman, Leicester City Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, who said people were ready for a new face in charge of the council.

He said: “I can offer a fresh start and a fresh face. At 46, I’m the youngest of the candidates but I will bring more accountability by holding mayoral forums four times a year if I’m elected.

“I want to bring Leicester out of the shadows and one of the things that needs to change is how things are governed.”

Councillor Osman launched his “Abdul 4 Mayor” campaign at the Clock Tower in Leicester city centre on Saturday afternoon. He spelled out his policies for improving the lives of people in the neighbourhoods around the city.

He said: “One of the things we can improve is the level of regeneration in the outer areas of the city.

“We need to find external funding for improvements to the infrastructure, more housing and better shopping areas.

“I think Leicester also needs better transport and as mayor I would like to sit down with the bus companies and work out a way to redirect resources from areas like parking into more bus services.”

Among Coun Osman’s supporters on Saturday was Councillor Barbara Potter.

She said: “Abdul is different. He can face challenges and he listens to the people.

“If he wins he will also have a good team working for him.”

Councillor Robert Wann, a cabinet member for leisure, also backed Coun Osman.

He said: “At the end of the day I’d like to see an elected mayor without any baggage.

“We need someone willing to take the risks. Abdul has proved he can do that in his regeneration role.

“It’s going to be an interesting race.”

The other four people aiming to be the Labour Party’s candidate for mayor are: Leicester City Council leader, Veejay Patel; Leicester South MP Sir Peter Soulsby; former city council leader Ross Willmott; and Peepul Centre founder Rita Patel. The party will select its candidate on March 18.

The directly-elected mayor will oversee the council’s 16,000 staff and balance the books on a £500 million budget.

The role of elected mayor will be totally separate to that of Lord Mayor, and will be similar to the council leader but with extra powers, such as being able to select a cabinet.